CHAMPAIGN — Illinois head coach Tim Beckman announced Wednesday that Rochester graduate Wes Lunt will be the team's starting quarterback this season.

And really, no one should be too surprised.

“I think what Wes has shown through spring football, through two-a-days, and 20 practices, 1,200 plus snaps, 750 passing attempts, I thought that if you look at the numbers, he's proved that he can lead this football team,” Beckman said.

“We just thought he was the best one to give us a chance to win right now.”

Two years ago, Lunt went 81-for-131 passing for 1,108 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions for the Cowboys. NCAA transfer rules kept him out last year, during which he bulked up by about 10 pounds.

The lingering question about the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Lunt isn't his size, though. It's about how well he has learned to run the Illinois offense during the preseason. And just how well he can run it with a herd of inexperienced receivers.

Any Illini receiver knows the answer to those questions.

Wide receiver Martize Barr got a taste of what it's like to play against Lunt's arm when he took defensive reps covering receivers at Camp Rantoul.

“Wes is a guy who can make all the throws on the field,” Barr said. “I love going against Wes because he's going to make you work every single rep, every play, because if you fall asleep, he's going to make you pay.

And no one knows that better than Lunt, who doesn't use Facebook or Twitter to avoid distraction. He'll be the first to tell you Cubit's system takes repetition, but so far, he likes what he sees.

“I have not been in an offense where the quarterback has so much control,” Lunt said. “As a quarterback, if you're not comfortable with a play before it starts, then it's probably not going to be a successful one. Being able to change that, if you can, is a big plus.”

The future of Illinois football now has a plan, but it's far from being determined.

But if anything, this decision reinforces the program's belief in Lunt by reiterating what Beckman told him during his recruitment: “The state needs you.”

Page 2 of 2 - Illinois got him. Now the Illini will see what he can do.

But with the position filled, the question remains: What's next for Aaron Bailey?

Well, his mobility and athleticism are the first things that come to mind.

“For me, I can stay in the pocket, but also keep the play going,” Bailey said. “If the play breaks down and seems dead, going to be a sack, I feel like I can create a play.”

Last season, while Nathan Scheelhaase took most of the snaps, Bailey was used to keep defenses off balance.

In nine games, Bailey was 2-for-5, including one touchdown against Wisconsin, and rushed 20 times for 83 yards and three touchdowns. His best performance came against Miami (Ohio) with 56 rushing yards and a touchdown on six carries, which earned him Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.

A nagging neck injury has kept Bailey out of practice the past few days, but Cubit indicated it wasn't anything major. Otherwise, Bailey's role in the offense this season has been vague, aside from being one of two backup quarterbacks.

“We have to sit down and talk, and see where we're at,” Cubit said. “The last five practices, he started looking like a natural quarterback guy, and that opens up his running ability.”